Brendan Carr Gets Trump Nod For FCC Seat

Months of speculation and predictions as to who will take the two open FCC Commissioner seats have come to an anti-climactic end, thanks to President Trump.

In a late Wednesday announcement, Trump revealed that he intends to nominate Brendan Carr as an FCC Commissioner.

Carr was widely expected to get the president’s nod, especially after he gave the green light to a nomination to former Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel–now set to return to the FCC.

Carr has been at the Commission for more than five years and was most recently the FCC’s General Counsel.

Brendan Carr

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai applauded the nomination of Carr, singling out his expertise on wireless policy and public safety. “I look forward to working with him in his new role and wish him all the best during the confirmation process,” Pai said.

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith was one of the first to chime in with words of praise for Carr, saying the NAB “strongly endorses” his nomination. “He has a firm grasp on telecom and media law and the right temperament to be a superb Commissioner,” Smith said.
“We support his swift confirmation.”

In a turn of events that might have seemed stunning at any other time in presidential history, President Donald Trump — in a statement that was distributed just before midnight Wednesday (6/14) — indicated that he intends to nominate the Democrat to a whole new five-year term on the Commission.

Adam R Jacobson is a veteran radio industry journalist and advertising industry analyst with general, multicultural and Hispanic market expertise. From 1996 to 2006 he served as an editor at Radio & Records.